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Power forward commits to WVU

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia received a basketball commitment Sunday from 6-foot-9 power forward Jonathan Holton, who became a freshman standout at Rhode Island before two arrests led to his dismissal last March.

Holton was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team after averaging 10.2 points and 8.1 rebounds in 2011-12. But within a few weeks of that season ending, Holton was charged with two counts of video voyeurism for allegedly recording sexual encounters with two URI students. He was arrested again two days later on a robbery warrant from Miami-Dade County.

Holton, a Miami native, spent last season at Palm Beach (Fla.) State Community College, where he averaged 17.5 points and 14.1 rebounds per game.

In November, Holton committed to Florida International, but he began looking for another program when coach Richard Pitino left FIU for Minnesota.

“I chose West Virginia because it was the best spot for me in that they needed a guy with energy who can rebound and score right away. I have a little experience under my belt. I’m a huge fan of Coach [Bob] Huggins, how he runs his program and I feel he can help me get to the next level where I want to go.” — Jonathan Holton via SNY.tv

Along with his interior presence, Holton made 16-of-86 shots from 3-point range at URI, a percentage that climbed to 37 percent last season when he helped Palm Beach State to a No. 2 national ranking.

West Virginia’s 2013 recruiting class already was heavy with frontcourt signees: 6-foot-8 Delvin Williams (Montverde, Fla.), 6-8 Elijah Macon (Columbus, Ohio), 6-10 Brandon Watkins (Decatur, Ga.) and 6-7 Nathan Adrian (Morgantown, W.Va.). In addition, WVU has offered a scholarship to 6-foot-6 Martinsburg forward Donte Grantham.

 







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